Improvement in ditching-machines



J. H. RAUCH. DIT'CHING-MAGHINE.

'No. 195,048, Patented Sept.11,1877

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. ETERS. FHOTQ LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. n c

UNITED SrATEs PATENT- OFFICE.

JOHN H. RAQUOH, OF IDA, MICHIGAN."

IMPROVEMENT IN DlTCHING -MACHIN-ES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,048, dated September 11, 1877 {application filed I July 23, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. RAUOH, of Ida, in the county of Monroe and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and Improved Ditching-Machine, of which the following is a specification The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a section taken longitudinally and vertically through the machine in the planes indicated by dotted lines a: w on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the guide for the hub-plate of the adjustable transportingwheel.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The frame of the improved ditching-machine is composed of two parallel lines, B and B, rigidly secured together at a suitable distance apart by means of bolts and bracing-tubes a a.

This frame is mounted on two transportingwheels, 0 0, one of which, 0, is applied on an axle, b, and constructed with a flanged rim, through which radially-adjustable pins 0 pass, and are exposed beyond the periphery of the wheel, for the purpose of preventing it from slipping on the ground.

The short axle of the wheel 0 is secured to a plate, (1, which is vertically adjustable between guides fixed to one of the sides B of frame by means of a screw, S.

At the front of the frame is a wheel, D, which is connected to the bar a by a swivel. Sometimes I shall connect the swivel-standard of the wheel D to the bar a at the point let- 'tered e.

To the swivel-standard is pivoted a drafttongue, E, and to this draft-tongue is secured at right angles to it a bar, F, which has pivoted onits outer end a double-tree bearing two single-trees. The bar F is braced by a chain, f, which is attached to it at or near the middle of its length, extended back, and attached to the draft-frame.

By means of this draft-equalizer the team can walk on the outside of the ditch being dug, and draw the machine, and by means of the tongue attachment a team can draw the machine direct.

G G designate two parallel inclined checks, which are curved, as shown in Fig. 2, and which constitute the elevator frame. This frame is pivoted to a transverse rod,g, so that its front edge is free to rise and descend vertically.

At the front end of the elevator-frame is a gage-drum, H, which is provided with sodcutters p, and in rear of this drum, and a little below it, is a shovel-plow, I, rigidly fixed to the elevator-frame.

The earth excavated by this plow is carried up by means of an endless apron attached to a chain, h, and deposited upon another endless apron, which is arranged at right angles to the elevator-chain h. The chain h is applied around two dru'ms, k k, the upper one of which has a pinion, l, keyed on its shaft, which receives rotation from a large spurwheel, m, on the axle b, through the medium of pinion-wheel mm The transverse endless apron, which receives the earth elevated by the apron attached to chain h, is attached to an endless chain, a, which is applied around drums j j j one of which has its journal-bearing in the sides of a frame, J, and the other two have their bearings in the draft-frame.

The frame J is detachable, and it is also reversible from one side to the other of the draftframe.

The pulley-drum j is keyed on a longitudinal shaft, n, on which is also keyed a beveled pinion, 0, which engages with a bevel-wheel, N, on a transverse shaft, P, which receives rotation from the wheel m through a pinion, m

It will be seen from the above description that by adjusting the wheel 0 the machine can be leveled, whether it be ditching or is being moved from one place to another. This wheel 0 will, of course, run on the surface of the ground, while the wheel (J may run in the ditch. The drum H rolls on the ground in front of the plow I and gages the depth the plow should run.

The excavated earth is carried up by theelevat r-a ron, which will be at'tached"*in =a suitable manner to the chain It, and deposited" upon an apron attached to the chain 5, which latter will carry the earth ofi laterallyarid"" deposit it in a wagon or upon the ground at a proper distancefrom the -ditch.

The elevator-frame can be raised and lowered by means of a rod, B. ,p p p Having thus described my *invesnoflr-I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- JOHN HENRY RAUOH.

# wic'fisssssa- HENRY S. RAUOH, SIMEON VAN AKIN, Jr. 

